Dentist Fairfield CA Blog

In a new article by Anjula Razdan on the website, Experience Life, Steven Lin, DDS, holistic dentist and author of The Dental Diet, talks about the mouth–body connection and how nutrition can help address crooked teeth, your oral microbiome, and more.

“In society we see our dental health as more of an inconvenience or vanity factor than anything else,” Lin says. “But does anyone stop to think about why a hole formed in their tooth at all? Your teeth provide crucial signals from your body when it’s in distress and you’re not providing it the right material to be healthy.”

Many people think that they get a better clean from using an electric toothbrush. And they are oftentimes correct. But does that mean that the standard recommendation to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months no longer applies? Not really.

The bristles of an electric toothbrush head still wear over time and become less effective, just like a regular toothbrush. The difference is you only have to change the head instead of the entire toothbrush.

There are situations when you would also need to replace the head more frequently. For instance, if you have tooth decay or gum disease and have received treatment for it, your dentist may recommend a new replacement head. The reason for this is because even after you get a cavity filled or have a deep cleaning for gum disease, the bacteria that caused your tooth decay and gum disease may still be present on your
toothbrush. By switching it out, you will prevent spreading it on your newly cleaned/treated teeth and gums.

Another situation in which you might decide to change toothbrush heads is after you have been sick, so as not to re-introduce the virus or bacteria that caused the illness into your mouth. Also, if someone else has used your toothbrush, it is a good idea to switch the head to prevent them from passing along any number of problems to you.

Of course, changing the head just because it is getting worn is reason enough to stick to a schedule. Sometimes a toothbrush will not seem worn even if it is, causing damage to the gum tissue in the form of bleeding and infection. Also, if you have been improperly storing your toothpaste, an excess of bacteria may have built up on it. Always store your toothbrush where it can receive good air circulation in order to dry completely between uses.

Keeping an extra head on hand at all time will make it easy to swap it out when the time comes. Just make sure you remember to change it every three to four months and your electric toothbrush will continue to clean and protect your smile for years to come.

Your toothbrush is one of the most important tools you have to keep your teeth and gums healthy. So, shouldn’t you be concerned about how you are keeping it in the best condition possible?

The first consideration for keeping your toothbrush in top shape is how it is stored. Never store it where it cannot air out and dry completely between uses. This includes a case or in a medicine cabinet. These types of environments can foster the growth of bacteria and even mold or mildew. Toothbrush holders that keep the toothbrush upright and provide for a good amount of air circulation are ideal, as long as they don’t allow toothbrushes to comingle. Just as you would not share a toothbrush with someone, you wouldn’t want them to transfer germs from one to another.

Rinsing your toothbrush after each use is also a step you do not want to skip. This removes food particles, toothpaste, and bacteria that may have accumulated on there during your brushing. You needn’t use a special water or disinfectant for this. Just tap water will do. Placing it in the dishwasher is also unnecessary, and could damage the bristles. Simply rinsing it and placing it in a good place to air dry is enough.

The last thing to do is make sure that you replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Do not wait until the bristles are worn or discolored. This is well past its useful life. Keeping a spare toothbrush handy at all times is a good idea so that you can change it out regularly. Replacing it more frequently may be necessary if the bristles are frayed, if someone else has used it, or if you have had recent gum disease or a cavity filled. The last thing you want to do is spread bacteria.

In following these simple but important steps, your toothbrush will serve its purpose well.

A new review of studies conducted by researchers at the Univerity of Washington shows that brushing without fluoride does not help prevent cavities. Even flossing by itself will not do the trick. According to these researchers, toothpaste must be used that contains fluoride.

Most toothpastes on the market today contain fluoride. So why the big commotion? There are a lot of natural health advocates that say that fluoride does more harm than good. And some natural toothpaste brands make do not include it in their formulas.

Apparently, it is not enough to just remove the plaque from your teeth. That includes flossing. Dental authorities maintain that the addition of fluorides can help protect your teeth from decay.

Have a toothache? Your suffering may be caused by any number of things, some of them life-threatening. That is why it is important that you not try to diagnose yourself and get in to see your dentist as soon as possible. Not to mention that you are probably in a great deal of pain.

Infection or Decay

When decay or trauma goes untreated, bacteria can get into the
root of your tooth, which contains all the nerve tissue that keeps your tooth alive. When bacteria enter your tooth root, an infection can make the tooth die inside. In even worse cases, it may even progress to the jaw bone. The sooner you can get this treated, the better chance you have of saving your tooth.

Sensitive Teeth

Sometimes, your teeth may feel like they’re aching from the inside out. If that happens, you might be experiencing a case of severe tooth sensitivity. Whether due to over-brushing, decay, or bacteria, tooth sensitivity is caused when the tooth enamel is compromised. When exposed to extreme temperatures, the center of the tooth reacts with a pain response. Sometimes, the pain can linger long after the offending food is eaten. This can make it seem like something else is going on with your tooth. But the best thing to do is see your dentist so that he or she can treat it.

Bruxism

You may be grinding your teeth while asleep. Also called bruxism, this is a dangerous habit, of which you may be totally unaware. As you may have guessed, this can cause your teeth to ache during the day. Not only can bruxism cause your teeth to hurt, but it is also extremely harmful to your smile and can cause immense stress on the teeth as well as the tooth roots. This can make your teeth more likely to fracture and become sensitive. Your gum tissue may also be more likely to be inflamed. Your dentist can treat this condition easily by prescribing a mouthguard and introducing relaxation techniques, but only if you see him or her. The sooner the better.

Trauma to the Tooth

Any kind of trauma to your tooth, such as an accident, chip, crack, or even damage caused by decay, can cause pain. The smallest of cracks can allow bacteria to enter your tooth and reach the nerve. That is why no matter how minor the chip or other defect is, it is important that you see your dentist right away to avoid further damage, pain, and infection.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Third molars, or wisdom teeth, often do not have room to grow in properly. When this happens, they may grow in sideways, pushing into the roots of the teeth next to them. This is called impaction, and it can be very painful. Your dentist can evaluate your wisdom teeth positions and decide if you need to have them removed or not.

The bottom line is, if you are experiencing tooth pain, you really need to see your dentist right away. Otherwise, your risk of losing one or more teeth permanently becomes more likely, Regular dental checkups are always a good idea, to spot problems early–before they become painful.

One of the most common causes of pale gums is anemia, a condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. Other tissues besides the gums can grow pale when this happens. The afflicted may also experience inexplicable exhaustion or weakness, shortness of breath, pale or yellowish skin, headaches, and heart palpitations.

Causes of anemia vary, from a lack of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12, to having too few blood cells. Not having enough hemoglobin can also lead to anemia, as can very heavy menstruation, pregnancy, liver, spleen, or kidney conditions, hypothyroidism, or sickle cell anemia in which the blood cells are abnormally shaped and stick together. Bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which may result from gastrointestinal ulcers, cancers, abnormal growths, colitis, or swelling of the large intestine, can also be a cause of anemia, as can severe parasite infestation.

For those taking certain medications for chemotherapy or too many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the risk of developing anemia is increased.

Treatment for anemia is relatively simple. Sometimes a person may be prescribed iron pills to take for at least 6 months with food and citrus juices. Eating iron-rich foods, such as dark, leafy greens, and fortified cereals and bread may also help. Hormone medications that lighten menstruation may be used if heavy periods are the culprit. And of course, avoiding foods that interfere with iron absorption in the body such as coffee, tea, alcohol, whole grain products, and dairy products may be recommended.

Recognizing anemia as the source of pale gums is the first step to correcting a problem that could have a long-term impact on your oral health.